Nice Menu Blog

Houston Dynamo

With the Dynamo set to begin the 2013 season in just 10 days – against D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium on March 2 – we are counting down to kickoff with a Dynamo-centric countdown to Opening Day. See the bottom of this post for the complete countdown list.

Each day, we’ll post a description of what makes the number significant. If you have any comments on the subjects, post them in the comment section below.

Today, we continue with #10:

When Boniek Garcia joined the Dynamo from Olimpia of Honduras on June 27, the club was 5-5-5 after one of the worst defeats of the season, a 4-2 setback in Montreal on June 23. Garcia was expected to help the club, adding a dynamic attacking dimension to the midfield. But few could have envisioned the significant impact the Honduran would have on Houston's 2012 season, which ended at the MLS Cup final.

From Garcia's debut on June 30 through the end of the season, the Dynamo had a +10 goal differential, with 28 goals scored and 18 goals allowed in 19 games. Before his arrival, the club had scored 20 goals and conceded 23, for a -3 goal difference. Granted, Houston's first seven games of the season were on the road, so the first 15 games of the year were under different circumstances than the final 19 with Garcia. Still, one cannot deny that the crafty midfielder was a major part of the Dynamo's summer surge, as the club went 9-4-6 with Garcia after the 5-5-5 start to the season.

The Dynamo did not lose any of Garcia's first eight games with the club, going 5-0-3 beginning with his June 30 debut against Philadelphia. At the end of the season, Garcia was voted by his teammates as the Dynamo Players' Player of the Year, the ultimate sign of respect from teammates. It seemed like Garcia impacted every game he played, and he played 90 minutes in all 17 regular season appearances, and 90 minutes in all six playoff games. Below are some of Garcia's stand out performances from his debut season in orange.

DATE

OPPONENT

SCORE

NOTE

6/30

Philadelphia

W, 2-1

After just two days of training with the club, assists on Brad Davis' opening goal just 19 minutes into debut

7/15

D.C. United

W, 4-0

Assists on Will Bruin's goal and then scores his first goal with Houston, which he declares the first header goal of his career

7/28

@ Toronto FC

W, 2-0

Combines with Davis to setup Brian Ching's late goal, sealing first road win since March as unbeaten streak reaches seven games

8/19

Columbus

T, 2-2

Continues blossoming partnership with Davis, assisting on his goal in 19th minute

8/25

Toronto FC

T, 1-1

Garcia is provider on Bruin's goal, marking fifth assist in 11 games with Houston

9/14

@ Sporting KC

T, 1-1

Garcia sets up Davis' second half goal as partners team up again

9/23

@ Philadelphia

L, 3-1

Honduran provides first half equalizer with rocket off far post

9/29

New England

W, 2-0

Garcia seals big win with stoppage time volley goal, followed by memorable knee-slide celebration in corner

10/20

Philadelphia

W, 3-1

On night Eastern Conference playoff field is settled, Garcia's provides game-winning goal in 71st minute, followed by a two-fist celebration through raining streamers

Return to the blog on Thursday for number 9 on our countdown to Opening Day.

With the Dynamo set to begin the 2013 season in just 11 days – against D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium on March 2 – we are counting down to kickoff with a Dynamo-centric countdown to Opening Day. See the bottom of this post for the complete countdown list.

Each day, we’ll post a description of what makes the number significant. If you have any comments on the subjects, post them in the comment section below.

Today, we continue with #11:

The Dynamo set a club record with 11 regular season home wins in 2012, completing a season that was record-setting in many ways. The Dynamo also set franchise records for goals (48) points (53) and average home attendance (21,015) while Will Bruin and Tally Hall set individual records as the club reached its fourth MLS Cup final in seven years.

Moreover, the club with the best home record in MLS history also completed the first unbeaten home season in team history with an 11-0-6 regular season mark. The 11 wins surpassed the previous club record of 10 home wins, set in 2011 and 2008. The Dynamo carry a 25-game regular season home unbeaten streak into 2013 (30 games in all competitions) and can set a new MLS record by extending the undefeated streak to 30 regular season games.

Below are details on each home win in 2012, along with the most home wins per season in Dynamo history.

With the Dynamo set to begin the 2013 season in just 12 days – against D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium on March 2 – we are counting down to kickoff with a Dynamo-centric countdown to opening day. See the bottom of this post for the complete countdown list.

Each day, we’ll post a short description of what makes the number significant. If you have any Dynamo-related numbers of your own, post them in the comment section below.

Today, we continue with #12:

Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall had 12 shutouts in 2012, the most in a season by a goalkeeper in club history. The previous mark was set by Pat Onstad, who had 11 clean sheets in 2007. Hall's rise to the elite of MLS goalkeepers has been swift: In two seasons, he has reached two MLS Cup finals, been named an MLS all-star (in 2011), and set the club record for shutouts. Along the way, he also set a club record by starting 67 consecutive games, from opening day 2011 to the final game of 2012, when the Dynamo rested most starters at Colorado to prepare for the playoffs.

Half of Hall's 12 shutouts came in a remarkable 30-day stretch in which Hall and the Dynamo recorded six shutouts in seven games. The remarkable defensive run began on July 3 with a 0-0 draw against the Chicago Fire and continued through a 2-0 home win over the New York Red Bulls on August 3. In between, Hall and his teammates allowed a single goal, a penalty in a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City on July 18, which was the only goal allowed in the seven-game run.

After two stellar years as a starting goalkeeper, the 27-year-old was rewarded with his first invitation to a U.S. senior national team camp in January.

Below is a list of all of Hall's regular season shutouts in 2012:

DATE

OPPONENT

SCORE

NOTE

3/11

@ Chivas USA

1-0 W

Opening Day shutout began seven-game road trip

3/17

@ San Jose

1-0 W

Clean sheet led to San Jose's only home loss in 2012; Earthquakes scored 43 goals in 16 other home games

The Dynamo held their first training session in Charleston on Sunday morning at the Charleston Battery's practice facility. It was a cold morning, with conditions similar to the first few days in Tucson on the club's preseason trip three weeks ago. The picture below confirms the stories from the Chicago Fire, which encountered a live alligator ambling up the shore and laying out beside the field at their training session on Friday morning. Apparently the gator is known to live in the pond, and he came out on Friday. Unfortunately, there were no gator sightings at the field today.

Today's practice included some technical work before the group engaged in a full field game that was sharp and crisp. The session ended with a bit of conditioning, highlighting the business-like nature of this trip, or any preseason trip for that matter.

With opening day just 13 days away, the club is getting ready for D.C. United and the long season ahead. After several scrimmages in Houston, this trip represents the final phase of preseason, with the regular season coming into clear view.

The team will train again on Monday and Tuesday before facing the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday. The match is at 4 p.m. CT and can be seen at www.USLnation.com.

With the Dynamo set to begin the 2013 season in just 14 days – against D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium on March 2 – we are counting down to kickoff with a Dynamo-centric countdown to opening day. See the bottom of this post for the complete countdown list.

Each day, we’ll post a short description of what makes the number significant. If you have any Dynamo-related numbers of your own, post them in the comment section below.

Today, we continue with #13:

13 different Dynamo players scored goals in the 2012 regular season.13 goal scorers is roughly average for the Dynamo in their seven-year history. The club set a franchise record with 17 goal scorers in 2011. Goal scorers by season: 2010: 15; 2009: 15; 2008: 12; 2007: 12; 2006: 13.

Dynamo players who scored in the 2012 regular season:

Name

Goals

Will Bruin

12

Brad Davis

8

Brian Ching

5

Boniek Garcia

4

Calen Carr

4

Macoumba Kandji

4

Adam Moffat

2

Andre Hainault

2

Bobby Boswell

2

Luiz Camargo

1

Jermaine Taylor

1

Colin Clark

1

Ricardo Clark

1

Return to the blog on Monday for number 12 on our countdown to opening day.

With the Dynamo set to begin the 2013 season in just 14 days – against D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium on March 2 – we are counting down to kickoff with a Dynamo-centric countdown to opening day. See the bottom of this post for the complete countdown list.

Each day, we’ll post a short description of what makes the number significant. If you have any Dynamo-related numbers of your own, post them in the comment section below.

Today, we continue with #14:

The Dynamo won 14 regular season games en route to a 14-9-11 record in 2012. The 14 wins were one shy of a franchise record, set in 2007. Despite the Dynamo finishing one short of a franchise record, Houston was in a dogfight for a playoff spot in 2012. It was the most competitive playoff race in Dynamo history, as Houston set a franchise record with 53 points but only secured the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Prior to 2012, the Dynamo were a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in all five playoff appearances in team history.

For context, compare the 2012 Eastern Conference playoff teams to the same field in 2011. The five East playoff teams averaged 57.6 points in 2012 after the same group averaged just 48.2 in 2011. That difference is more than 9 points, meaning the 2012 playoff field averaged 3 more wins than 2011. The Dynamo had 49 points in 2011 - four fewer than 2012 - but earned a No. 2 seed.

How many games will the Dynamo win in 2013? Will take advantage of a full nine-month season at home as supposed to starting on the road for seven straight games ( a la 2012)? Will the desire to give itself the best chance to host MLS Cup in 2013 help the club break 15 wins? The answers will be here soon. The season starts in 14 days.

Here is a list of the most regular season wins per season in Dynamo history:

YEAR

WINS

RECORD

TOTAL GAMES

POINTS

2007

15

5-8-7

30

52

2012

14

14-9-11

34

53

2008

13

13-5-12

30

51

2009

13

13-8-9

30

48

2011

12

12-9-13

34

49

2006

11

11-8-13

32

46

Return to the blog on Sunday for number 13 on our countdown to opening day.

With the Dynamo set to begin the 2013 season in just 15 days – against D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium on March 2 – we are counting down to kickoff with a Dynamo-centric countdown to opening day. See the bottom of this post for the complete countdown list.

Each day, we’ll post a short description of what makes the number significant. If you have any Dynamo-related numbers of your own, post them in the comment section below.

Today, we continue with #15:

The success that Dynamo forward Will Bruin has had against D.C. United is well documented. The young striker has six goals in five regular season games and added a seventh during last year's playoff run. But did you know that Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis is just as profilic against the Black-and-Red, tallying 15 goals and assists in 25 career regular season matches against United?

Davis has had more success against D.C. United than any other team in his career. He has scored six goals and added nine assists, including the first goal at BBVA Compass Stadium on May 12, 2012.

Davis' success is not limited to the regular season. The five-time MLS all-star recorded assists in each of the Dynamo's postseason matches against D.C. United in 2012.